Who will watch the…Allegiance of Heroes?

Cincinnati's own crime-fighter: Shadowhare!

Patrolling the streets of Cincinnati fighting crime, stopping injustices and protecting the innocent is Shadowhare.  His identity hidden by a mask and costume, this is a real guy trying to be a real hero.

From this article:

“We help enforce the law by doing what we can in legal standards, so we carry handcuffs, pepper spray … all the legal weapons,” said Shadowhare. “We will do citizen’s arrests. We will intervene on crimes if there is one happening in front of us.”

Why do superheroes always look cooler in the movies and in comics?  Oh yeah, because they’re not real and are much more unlikely to get the living tar beat out of them.

Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate what this kid is trying to do.  He’s trying to make a difference and improve the world and all, and that’s admirable.  And I like the idea of real-life costumed heroes, sort of.  I’m a little uneasy with real-life vigilantism.  It seems like the thin edge of a very dangerous wedge.  Plus, Shadowhare looks like a bit of a dork.

I wish I could say that he is one lone individual with delusions of grandeur that has watched one superhero movie too many.  But I can’t.

Shadowhare is not alone in his quest to fight crime. He heads up a group of men — and one woman — called the “Allegiance of Heroes.” The members communicate with each other in online forums. Among the members are Aclyptico in Pennsylvania, Wall Creeper in Colorado and Master Legend in Florida.

“I’ve even teamed up with Mr. Extreme in California — San Diego — and we were trying to track down a rapist,” said Shadowhare.

Yes, my friend.  Rest easy.  The Allegiance of Heroes is watching out for you. 

Maybe this appeals to you?  Maybe you would like to be a costumed superhero, protecting your neighborhood or community at large?  How would one go about doing something like this?

Luckily, in this day and age, you can find almost anything you can image on the Intarwebs:  World Superhero Registry and Real Life Superheroes.  Here you can find all the information you might need about becoming a costumed superhero.

If you are going to venture out onto the streets as a caped crusader, at least have a professionally made costume.

I can’t endorse this idea and it worries me a little.  At the same time, however, I can’t help but be a bit titillated by the whole thing.

Does that make me a bad person?  A super-villian, perhaps?